Chapo Guzman Finally Arrested by Mexican Authorities

The infamous Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was arrested on Saturday in Mazatlan, Mexico. Guzman became legendary for being the elusive head of one of the most powerful drug cartels in the world.

Officials said Guzman was with a woman when authorities captured him in an operation run jointly by the Mexican marines and the U.S. DEA. Officials said they had been working on the operation for as long as five weeks.

For months, authorities have been increasing the pressure on Guzman’s organization. Authorities in Mexico have killed or captured a number of Guzman’s henchmen of late, said authorities.

Those operations helped yield information that included cell phones and other details that have helped Mexican and U.S. authorities’ track down Guzman.

Mexican video footage shows Guzman handcuffed and being led by marines in masks in Mexico City. Enrique Peña Nieto, the President of Mexico thanked Mexican security forces for their hard work in such a big arrest.

Guzman, the head of the Sinaloa cartel, has been on the loose since 2001 when he escaped from a Mexican prison.

Officials from the U.S. said it was important that Guzman be extradited to the U.S. as soon as possible otherwise, he may succeed in escaping again from a Mexican prison.

Guzman’s arrest is not only a big blow to his cartel in Mexico but all over the Americas and even Europe as he recently moved the cartel in Europe.

In Mexico, the rather short Guzman became somewhat of a larger than life figure while eluding authorities and at the same time expanding his drug empire. His story became topics of bestselling books and the subject of many songs referred to as “narcocorridos.”

In the U.S., Guzman is wanted on multiple charges of drug trafficking. Guzman is just 5-foot-6 and hence his nickname of “El Chapo,” which means Shorty.

Guzman is 56 and in 2001 escaped from a Mexican prison that was “high-security” and has avoided being apprehended since due to his ability to successfully bribe local, state and federal officials in Mexico.

Some claim he owned nearly every politician and most law enforcement authorities in Mexico.